Kit: No. 5948
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: ProModeler, Revell-Monogram, 8601 Waukegan Rd., Morton Grove, IL 60053-2295, 847-966-3500
Price: $31.75
Comments: Injection molded, 239 parts, decals.
Level bomber, dive bomber, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance bomber, night fighter, tank buster, mine layer, and finally a flying bomb (Mistel) – perhaps no other aircraft of World War II was as versatile as Germany’s Ju 88.
In a trans-Pacific agreement, Revell-Monogram has packaged and added parts to the unreleased Dragon (Hong Kong) early Ju 88 kit.
The parts feature recessed panel lines and good detail. ProModeler’s 24-page instructions include several detail shots of a preserved Ju 88. Decals provide markings for four aircraft in a variety of camouflage schemes.
No alignment pins were molded into the fuselage halves. I inserted styrene strips along the mating surfaces to help align and to increase the surface area for a strong joint. The holes on the fuselage for the pins on the horizontal stabilizers had to be enlarged, and the seams between the fin, stabilizers, and fuselage needed filler.
I modified the assembly sequence of the engine nacelles and wings. I left off the nacelle rings (interfaces) and the engine fronts to facilitate painting. This also allowed me to paint the exhausts and then insert them from the inside through the assembled nacelle. The wings fit better if you attach the bottom wing tip to the bottom wing half and repeat the process for the top pieces. Then you can join the top assemblies to the bottom, trapping the aileron.
Remove the small bulge on the upper port wing near the leading-edge root. Only the G-1 versions with BMW engines had this air scoop. I had to work on the angle of the wing to make it join to the fuselage.
Interior details are good, but the seats lack harnesses, and there is little detail in the ventral gondola. I installed the bomb-rack fairings after cleaning up the wing/fuselage joints.
The propeller blades are molded separately and are not keyed to the hubs so carefully attach them and set equal pitch. I had to trim the canopy a bit to get it to fit.
I chose the 9/KG 51 Edelweiss Geschwader version with its yellow cowls. The fuselage band decal is the wrong color, so I masked and painted the band RLM-04 yellow.
The finished model scales right on the dimensions in several references. I used Aero Detail No. 20 as my main source. I clocked 37 hours on my Ju 88, longer than usual because of the fit problems.
– Ralph Waszak